This inkstone was found in a tomb in China. The ancient Chinese furnished tombs with various ceramic objects to accompany the dead into the afterlife.

Everyone who lived in the Han dynasty was buried with ceramic objects. In fact, these objects were in such demand that people began to admire ceramics in general. Before ceramics became so popular people thought that only objects made of bronze were appropriate for tombs. Bronze was more costly and would have been unaffordable for ordinary people.